Seasonal plates in Germany: pay only while the vehicle is on the road
A motorcycle in summer, a winter car in winter, a motorhome for the travel months: with a seasonal plate (Saisonkennzeichen) the vehicle stays registered but costs money only in the months it is used.
A seasonal plate (Saisonkennzeichen) is, under section 10(3) of the vehicle registration ordinance (FZV), an ordinary plate with an operating period added, for example 04 to 10 for April to October. The period covers full months, at least 2 and at most 11, and repeats every year without a new application. Outside the period the vehicle may neither be driven nor parked on public roads, so it needs a private space. In return, vehicle tax and third-party insurance are charged for the season only. The registration office charges the same fee as for any registration under the road traffic fee schedule (GebOSt), last amended by Art. 6 of the Ordinance of 12 August 2026: €30.00 at the counter for a new registration; switching a registered vehicle costs €30.00 plus new plates. Outside the season, a short-term plate allows individual trips.
How long is my season?
Months on the road
8
| Off the road without deregistering | 4 |
| Allowed (2 to 11 months)? | Yes |
| On the plate | 3 / 10 |
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
How the period works
On the right of the plate is a small field with two numbers stacked: the first month on top, the last below. 04 over 10 means registered from the first of April to the end of October. The period may run across the new year, such as 11 to 03 for a winter car. It applies the same way every year until you change it or deregister the vehicle. The table shows common examples.
| Vehicle | Season on the plate | Months on the road | Months off | Tax and liability saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | 04–10 (Apr – Oct) | 7 | 5 | 42 % |
| Convertible | 03–10 (Mar – Oct) | 8 | 4 | 33 % |
| Motorhome | 04–09 (Apr – Sep) | 6 | 6 | 50 % |
| Winter car | 11–03 (Nov – Mar) | 5 | 7 | 58 % |
| Classic car | 05–09 (May – Sep) | 5 | 7 | 58 % |
Use the calculator below the summary to check the period you want. The ordinance requires full months; a period starting on the fifteenth of March does not exist.
What it costs
For the registration office, a seasonal plate is not a separate type of fee. For a new registration you pay the normal fee; for a vehicle already registered that you switch to a seasonal plate, this calculator charges the change of plate type with new plates.
| Case | Fee | With small items, no plates |
|---|---|---|
| New registration with a seasonal plate, in person | €30.00 | €31.90 – €37.30 |
| New registration with a seasonal plate, online | €13.10 | €15.00 – €20.40 |
| Switching a registered vehicle | €30.00 | €32.60 – €33.60 |
| Switching with a personalised number | €40.20 | €42.80 – €43.80 |
The real saving is not at the office but in tax and insurance. Under the Motor Vehicle Tax Act, vehicle tax is assessed only for the months of the operating period; the customs office receives the period from the registration office. The insurer charges for the season, often at its own rate. A motorcycle with seven months therefore pays tax for seven months, not twelve.
How long is my season?
Months on the road
8
| Off the road without deregistering | 4 |
| Allowed (2 to 11 months)? | Yes |
| On the plate | 3 / 10 |
The rules outside the season
No driving, no parking. Outside the period the vehicle may not stand on public roads, not even at the kerb outside your house. A garage, yard or rented space is needed.
Exceptions. Trips to deregister and back are allowed. For anything else, such as a test drive after the winter break or a garage appointment in February, you need a short-term plate, and the seasonal plate must come off.
Roadworthiness test. The inspection deadline keeps running during the rest period. If it falls inside, agree with the test centre before the season starts how to get there; a trip outside the season again needs a short-term plate.
Insurance. Third-party cover rests; with many policies partial comprehensive cover continues as storage cover, for example against theft or fire in the garage. Ask about it before you lay the vehicle up.
Seasonal plate or deregistering?
The alternative is to deregister the vehicle every year and register it again in spring. That means two fees, two appointments and a reserved number. The seasonal plate is paid once and then runs by itself. Deregistering is only worth it if the vehicle will stand for more than a year or it is unclear whether it will be used again. For motorcycles, of which the Federal Motor Transport Authority counted 5,071,468 on 1 January 2026, the seasonal plate is therefore the usual route.
Three mistakes
First, a period chosen too tightly. A motorcycle on 05 to 08 misses good weeks in April and September, and changing it costs a fee and plates. Second, leaving the vehicle at the kerb in winter. That is an offence even if it never moves. Third, selling outside the season with a test drive on the seasonal plate; the buyer needs a short-term plate for that. The plate page shows the other types of plate.